SPRINGFIELD R/UDAT JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 26 - 30, 1985 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 What is R/UDAT 2 Executive Summary 3 What We Found 6 Vision 8 Critical Issues 10 Strategies 11 Community Organization 25 Historic Preservation 27 Congregate Care 32 D i s pIacemen t 3 7 Cr ime 40 Hou s i ng 4 3 Parks and Recreation 45 48 The General Plan ¥' Arts and Culture 58 Energy |||| 59 R/UDAT Team 65 Resource People and Steering Committee 70 Bibliography 76 This project was funded by a grant from the Jacksonville Department of Housing and Urban Development, City of Jacksonville. Jake M. Godbold, Mayor Richard Bowers, Executive Director Co-sponsored by Jacksonville Chapter, American Institute of Architects IV INTRODUCTION In October, 1984 the Jacksonville Department of Housing and Urban Development contacted the American Institute of Architects regarding the possibility of conducting a study of the Springfield area of Jacksonville. I t was decided that a Regional/Urban Design Assistance program might be appropriate and AIA suggested that an application documenting the project be drawn up for consideration for a full- fledged R/UDAT study. HUD assembled a group of residents, architects and planners, and enlisted the support of the Jacksonville AIA to develop the program, sponsor the application and serve as the steering committee for the project, should it materialize. The proposal was accepted in April, 1985, a commitment was made to assemble a team, and the study was set for Sept. 26 - 30, 1985, and a team of architects, planners, development specialists, urban designers, landscape architects and sociologists was selected and charged to study the area, consult with neighborhood and area interests and make recommendations to revitalize and recapture the charm of this inner city residential enclave. The team meets with community groups and gets acquainted with local conditions at first hand by means of site visits anad tours. After public hearings are held the team members closet themselves for WHAT IS A R/UDAT? intensive sessions; they call on local resource people as needed, in A RegionaI/Urban Design Assistance order to define problems, establish Team CR/UDAT) is a service of the strategies and develop and Urban Planning and Design Committee synthesize courses of action. of the National American Institute Then, the team's recommendations of Architects. The purpose of the are presented to the community at a program is to assist American public meeting. cities and towns to answer questions about urban planning and design, in order to help civic, social, and business leaders effectively plan short and long term goals for their communities. The members of the RegionaI/Urban Design Assistance Team are experts in architecture and urban design, economics and finance, political and social sciences, growth management, and public policy. Team members are unpaid volunteers, recruited from all over the nation. For a decade the AIA has been sending these assistance teams to Ame.rican communities. Cities with a combined population of more than 10 million citizens have been served and professional services valued in excess of $2 million have been donated. The team chairman visits the community well in advance of the R/UDAT to meet with its citizens, leaders, planning officials, and the AIA chapter. A packet of maps, statistics,and information is. prepared, together with a statement of the problems to be confronted, and is sent to each team member to study. The team's visit is four days and is coordinated by the local AIA chapter. The team is assisted by professionals and students from the region. 2 inordinate number of congregate and living arrangements, a negative perception of the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY community by other citizen) in Jacksonvilleor a common perception of the neighborhood as the Jacksonville Bowey, a housing stock This report creates a challenging which very seldom meets minimum vision for the future of Springfield standards, insufficient public and a provocative agenda for resources, unavailable private accomplishing the reccommenda t i on s financing, absentee landlords, contained herein. It presents an nonconforming commercial uses in image of a vital and revitalized residential areas, and marginal and Historic Springfield comprised of disruptive commercial uses on major four distinctive, yet inter-related streets were identified. villages that have restored their precious architectural heritage. From this intensive examination of Villages which created an the strengths and liabilities of environment of street life and civic Springfield, the team developed a amenities which proclaim Historic set of critical issues which Springfield as a place for quality corresponded to the problems and in-city living. An Historic needs to be addressed through a Springfield which reinforces the comprehensive general strategy which inextricable physical, cultural and brings together solutions for economical links to the emerging dealing with crime, disorganized renaissance of the Central Business community advocacy, housing, District. An uniquely diverse congregte care facilities, inner-city community which welcomes environmental enhancement, urban and attracts a wide diversity of design, historic preservation; thus, residents. providing a framework for conserted act ion. In developing an agenda to realize this vision, an intensive Particular activi ties crucial to the investigation of contemporary success of the plan were analyzed in Springfield was carried out through greater depth. A housing action interviews, neighborhood program was outlined; and an waIk-throughs and analysis of the Historic Preservation district copious documentation available on designation program proposed. A this area. Strengths such as the Parks and Recreation analysis is unique housing stock, easy access to included, as well as, a streetscape downtown, excellent internal action program and an in-depth circulation, conveniently accessible discussion of urban design local schools were identified. These considerations. Traffic and strengths taken together reinforced transportation considertions were the team's feeling that something examined. Social displacement and significant could be accomplished action program; an analysis of here, feeling that something could congregate facilities and proposals be accomplished here. However, the to deal with the problem they pose; current problems and weaknesses of and an analysis of the crime problem Springfield could not be ignored. and affirmative proposals to deal Liabilities, such as a high crime with that issue are also offered. In rates general impoverishment of a addition, an energy analysis is large proportion of the residents of discussed along with an outline for the area, the presence of an organizing for action through the development of a community council confronted must confound the cynics, and the establishment of an Historic to develop a record of achievement Springfield local redevelopment that surpass even their most corporation to focus private and extravagant expectations. The R/UDAT public energies and resources. team is convinced that the people of Springfield and the leadership of In the summary, the analyses themes, the City of Jacksonville has the recommendations for immediate potential staying power and vision actions proposed herein, are only to realize a bright and vibrant the first in what needs to become a future for Historic Springfield. all consuming passion of a dedicated commun i ty. The commun ity willing to endure and persevere, accepting the realities with which they are 4 The City of Jacksonville, Florida 5 - A community well aware of the historical significance of WHAT WE FOUND Springfield. -An identifiable group of con­ cerned citizens residing in the community who see the After two days of lengthy pub­ need for action. lic discussions with large groups - Acknowledgement by elected pub­ of residents, public officials and lic officials of the need to businesses, complemented by inten­ support community goals and sive one on one interviews with objectives. critical decision makers,and inter­ ested parties; plus extensive site - Willingness of appointed pub­ visits via foot, bus, and helicopter lic officials with critical and intensive review of the copious operating responsibilities, planning data and historical mater­ to assist in the planning ials available, the team set about and implementation of public the task of digesting all the in- policies impacting this formation, suggestions and proposals area. presented to it. This analytical ef - General awareness by public fort gave rise to the following decision-makers that the via­ findings which have guided the bility and promise of the study. For planning purposes, revitalized downtown will the problems and opportunities of be dependent on the future the Springfield area have been out­ viability of Springfield. lined in the form of "assets" and - Recent, noticeable apprecia­ "strengths" on one side of the tion in residential property equation, and. "constraints" and values throughout the Spring­ "liabilities" on the other side: field area but still rela­ tively low enough to be at­ tractive investment and liv­ ing opportunity. Assets and Strengths - Current occupancy and suit­ ability for continued use and renovation of the com­ - Unique historic housing stock. mercial properties along - Large supply of existing and Ma in at Eight streets. potentially available af­ - Continued expansion and in­ fordable housing stock. vestment